Eye construction for soft stuffed toys

ABSTRACT

A stuffed figure has its eyes recessed in permanent sockets formed in the covering of the figure. This is accomplished by means of an eye socket simulation inside the covering and a headed eye simulation outside the covering. The socket simulation is outwardly concave and receives a stem extending inward from the eye simulation, which when pressed into the socket simulation through the covering draws the latter into the former to produce a recess which is not filled when the figure is stuffed. An additional disc simulating the sclera of the eye can be held between the enlarged head of the eye simulation, which is representative of the pupil and iris of the eye, and the covering in the socket.

United States Patent [1 1 Grooms [111 3,871,128 51 Mar. 18, 1975 EYECONSTRUCTION FOR SOFT STUFFED Primary E.\'aminerLouis G. ManceneAssistant Examiner-R. F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or FirmMerchant,Gould, Smith & Edell [57] ABSTRACT A stuffed figure has its eyesrecessed in permanent sockets formed in the covering of the figure. Thisis accomplished by means of an eye socket simulation inside the coveringand a headed eye simulation outside the covering. The socket simulationis outwardly concave and receives a stem extending inward from the eyesimulation, which when pressed into the socket simulation through thecovering draws the latter into the former to produce a recess which isnot filled when the figure is stuffed. An additional disc simulating thesclera of the eye can be held between the enlarged head of the eyesimulation, which is representative of the pupil and iris of the eye,and the covering in the socket.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to the general field of toys, and more particularly to stuffedfigures. Such figures in the past have had glass eyes secured to thesurface of the head by hand sewing methods. These arrangements are notconsidered completely safe by existing toy-safety regulations, andaccepted practice is now to use an unbreakable plastic eye having aportion which extends through the fabric or skin of the figure and isheld by a lock washer. The result of this process is an eye lying on thesurface of the head or actually protruding from it, which is a highlyunnatural appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of this invention toprovide an improved eye structure for stuffed figures whereby the eye isrecessed in a natural appearing socket, which is permanent and does notdisappear when the head is stuffed.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an eye structure inwhich not only the socket, the iris, and the pupil but the sclera aswell are simulated with verisimilitude, and which is well adapted to theusual toy making procedures.

A more specific object is to provide an eye structure for a stuffedfigure including an outwardly concave socket simulation inside the coverof the figure and an eye simulation outside the covering which includesa stem passing through the covering and the socket simulator to draw thecovering into the concavity of the latter.

A further specific object is to provide a structure as just describedwhich includes a sclera simulation between the eye simulation and thecovering in the recess.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of novelty whichcharacterize my invention are pointed outwith particularity in theclaims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a betterunderstanding of the invention, its advantages, and objects attained byits use, reference should be had to the drawing which forms a furtherpart hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which thereis illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a stuffed figure embodyingmy invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial section along the line 22 of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, portions being in section along the line3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the eye structure before being assembled;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a socket simulator; and

FIG. 6 is a section along the line 66 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing,reference numeral 10 identifies a stuffed figure having my improved eyestructure. The figure has a covering or skin 11 of acrylic pile fiberinto which a nose and ears of contrast- 2 ing fabric are inserted andmaintained in a desired configuration by suitable stuffing 12.

The eye structure 13 of the figure comprises a socket simulation 14 inthe form of an outwardly concave cup member 15 having a rolled rim l6,and of elliptical out line, although ovals, circles, and irregularoutlines may be used at the will of the designer as suggested by FIGS. 5and 6.

Simulation 14 is located inside the covering 11 ofthe figure. An eyesimulation 20 in the general form of a stud 21 has an enlarged head 22outside covering 11, and a stem 23 which passes through an opening 24 incovering 11 and an opening 25 in member 15. Opening 25 is slightlysmaller than stem 23, and has a plurality of inwardly extendingresilient teeth 26, which resiliently pass the stem but firmly grip itafter insertion, which is ordinarily accomplished as a machine process.As best seen in FIG. 4, the outer surface of head 21 is representativeof the pupil and iris of an eye.

A disc 27 of comparatively stiff, resilient material of light color isapertured at 30 to pass stem 23, so that the disc is firmly held betweenhead 22 and member 15. Disc 27 may be circular or non-circular, and theapertures 24, 25 and 30 may be in the center of the socket or displacedtherefrom. I

It will be realized that disc 27 simulates the sclera of the eye, andfor some figures may not be desired. In such a case the disc is simplyomitted. The head 22 of stud 21 is sufficiently large to contactcovering 11 and hold it firmly against member 15, so as to prevent anyraveling of the fabric around aperture 24.

In the practice of my invention the eye structures are assembled, withor without the sclera simulation, before the figure is stuffed: thenature of the covering is such that when stud 21 is pressed tightly intomember 15 a smooth recess in the covering is produced. Stuffing materialis then added to the figure to give the desired outline, and the openingleft for stuffing is sewed up to complete the figure.

Numerous objects and advantages of my invention have been set forth inthe foregoing description, together with details of the structure andfunction of the invention, and the novel features thereof are pointedout in the appended claims. The disclosure, however, is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail especially in matters of shape,size and arrangement of parts, within the principle of the invention, tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

What is claimed is:

1. An eye structure for a stuffed figure having a fabric coveringcomprising:

an eye simulation comprising a stud member having an enlarged headoutside said covering and an inwardly extending stem passing throughsaid covering;

and an eye socket simulation within said covering,

comprising an outwardly concave cup member sized, relative to said headof said eye simulation, in the proportion of an eye socket to an eye,said socket simulation comprising an outwardly concave cup member havingmeans in the bottom thereof for receiving and securing the stem of saideye simulation after it is passed inwardly through said covering so thatsaid enlarged head engages the outside of said covering to draw thelatter into 3 4 said cup member; whereby to give the appearance throughthe cup at a location displaced from the center of an eye naturallylocated in a recessed socket. th f,

The Structure of claim 1 in which Said P member 5. The structure ofclaim 3 in which the stem passes has a roller rim rolled is apertured toreceive said stem, through the Cup and the disc at locations displacedthe aperture being toothed to resiliently pass and grip- 5 from theCenters thereof pmgly hold sald Stem 6. The structure of claim 1 inwhich said cup member 3. The structure of claim 1 in which said eyesimulation further includes a disc of comparatively stiff, resilientmaterial of light color held between said head and said covering withinthe rim of said cup, to simulate the sclera of the eye. an eye.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which the stem passes is of metal andsaid stud is of plastic.

stud is outwardly representative of the pupil and iris of 7. Thestructure of claim 1 in which the head of said

1. An eye structure for a stuffed figure having a fabric coveringcomprising: an eye simulation comprising a stud member having anenlarged head outside said covering and an inwardly extending stempassing through said covering; and an eye socket simulation within saidcovering, comprising an outwardly concave cup member sized, relative tosaid head of said eye simulation, in the proportion of an eye socket toan eye, said socket simulation comprising an outwardly concave cupmember having means in the bottom thereof for receiving and securing thestem of said eye simulation after it is passed inwardly through saidcovering so that said enlarged head engages the outside of said coveringto draw the latter into said cup member, whereby to give the appearanceof an eye naturally located in a recessed socket.
 2. The structure ofclaim 1 in which said cup member has a roller rim rolled is apertured toreceive said stem, the aperture being toothed to resiliently pass andgrippingly hold said stem.
 3. The structure of claim 1 in which said eyesimulation further includes a disc of comparatively stiff, resilientmaterial of light color held between said head and said covering withinthe rim of said cup, to simulate the sclera of the eye.
 4. The structureof claim 1 in which the stem passes through the cup at a locationdisplaced from tHe center thereof.
 5. The structure of claim 3 in whichthe stem passes through the cup and the disc at locations displaced fromthe centers thereof.
 6. The structure of claim 1 in which said cupmember is of metal and said stud is of plastic.
 7. The structure ofclaim 1 in which the head of said stud is outwardly representative ofthe pupil and iris of an eye.